Bottle-capping machine.



H. E. MARSHALL. 3 BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIQN FILED JUNE 30. 1908.

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, Inventor.

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Wz'inesses:

H. E. MARSHALL.

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION H'Lnn JUNE so, 1908.

986,839. Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses;

' H. E. MARSHALL.

BOTTLE} OAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 30.1908.

986,839. Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

3 SHEBT8BHEET 3.

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- sraTEs PATENT. OFFICE.

manners. MARSHALL, or new Yoax, n. Y., ASSIGNOR ronmmr w. arnwaim, or

BOTTLE-GAPPING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. MAR- ring gripping under a shoulder ofthe neck of the bottle. Many difiiculties have been encountered with machines of this class,'particularly the inability to satisfactorily compensate for the difference of the thickness.

of the heads of the bottle; the inability to readily and accurately adjust the bottle to the desired height and retain it at this height; and in that no reliable provision is made for adjusting the pressure on the top of the bottle and maintaining this pressure uniform. Furthermore, it frequently occurs that the caps are not satisfactorily applied, due to the fact that the spinning rollers engage the bottle-head'too soon and do 'not spin about the flange of the cap sufliciently long to properly secure it to the bottle.

The object of my invention is to obviate these difficulties, and to this end, first, I employ a spring or otherresilient means in connection with the spinning rollers which allows the proper movement of the rollers to enable them to always engage the shoulder of the neck of the bottle, regardless of the thickness thereof; secondly, I provide the vertical stem of the bottle-rest and its,

bearings with fine screw threads, which allow of ready and accurate vertical adjustment of the rest; third, I provide an adj usting screw to adjust the tension of the springemployed to exert pressure on the top of the bottle to hold the bottle firmly in position; and to avoid compressing the spring until it exerts undue pressure, I employ-a cam roller in connection with the cam lever instead of connecting the lever directly with the spring. To bring the spinning rollers Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. Application filed June 30, 1908. Serial No. 441,182. i

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

slowly into cont-act'with the head of the bottle, I employ a cone, the angle of which 1s much less than of those commonly used; and whereas heretofore, in machines of this classi the bottle immediately begins to deseen as soonas it reaches its hi hest limit,

I provide means for holding the ottle-head .in contact with the rollers (luring substantially one-sixth of the revolution of the pulley and shaft, thus allowing time for the cap to be securely fastened.

It is common in machines of this kind to employ a cam to raise and lower the plunger,

as well as to employ various more complicated movements, but I have found that a crankpm on the shaft acting directly in a slot in the plunger afiords the simplest as well as the most'satisfactory method ofactuating the plunger. Y

Other objects and advantages of my hottle-capping machine will appear from the following description.

I shall now describe the means embodying my invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and shall thereafter point out-my invention in claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of my bottle-capping machine. Fig.

2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the bottle in position to be capped. Fig.

.3 is a detail sectional elevation of the spinning head. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailview of the spinning-roller showing the finger connected with it. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 6 is an inverted plan of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a sectional plan of the parts shown in Fig. 3, taken on the line .w-w, Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the clutch mechanism.

The capping mechanism consists of the spinning-rollersl, the buffer 2, the pulley 3, and the hollow cone 4. The pulley 3, resting on the collar 11, is mounted to rotate on the buffer 2, and'carries with it the spinning-rollers 1. These rollers have arms 5, the ends of which are split and are fastened to the lower ends of the studs 6 of the fingers 7 by means of screws8, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The studs 6 extend through the bearings 9 in the pulley 3 and are surrounded in the bearings by springs 10, which bear against the shoulders of the studs. These springs allow of the necessary vertical play of the rollers to compensate for the difference in the thickness of bottle-heads. The

fingers. 7 are held in -contact with the cone 4 by springs 12. It is evident, therefore,

1 that as the buffer 2 ispressedupward in its bearings 13, the .pulley 3 will be carried along by the collar 11, and, hence, as the fingers 7 mount the cone 4, they will be pressed outward against the tension of the springs 12 and the rollers 1 Wlll be pressed inward accordingly.

During the ca ping process, the bottle stands onthe bott e rest 14 agalnst-the gage 15, as shown in Fig. 2. Therest 14, which serves as a complementary pressure head, cooperative with the buffer 2, has a stem 16 which is very finely screw-threaded a'fitk screws into the top of the plunger 17. This method of mounting the bottle-rest permits the bottle to be.easily and accurately ad, justed toward and from the buffer and assures against the liability of the rest being pushed down by the pressure on the top ofthe bottle. The plunger 17, which slides in the bearings 18, these bearings being attached to the main column 19, is connected with the driving shaft by the pitman 20, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the plunger by the pin 21.

To actuate the plunger 17, I employ a crank-and-slot movement. The crank-pin 22 on the end of the driving-shaft 23 enters the slot 24 formed in the pitman 20, and by its rotation raises and lowers the plunger. The "slot 24 is shown as having its upper side curved to conform to the are described by the crank-pin 22 for a distance equal sub stantially to 60 degrees. Consequently, after the plunger has reached, its uppermost limit, it is held there during one-sixth of tlte rotation of the crank-pin, thus giving ample 4,0

time for the cap-to be well spun on to the.

bottle." The lower end of the pitman 20 is providedwith a vertical slot 25, which slides. upon the stud 26 between the collars 27 and 28, thus forming a guide for the pitman to keep it alined with the plunger. y The clutch mechanism, used to actuate the plunger as desired, forms no part of the present invention, but is fully shown, de-' scribed and claimed in an application filed by me simultaneously herewith under Serial Number 441,183. The main driving-pulley 29 is mounted loosely on the shaft 23 be- 1 tween the collars 30 and 31, the latter being keyed on to the shaft. To connect the shaft 23 with the .pulley, the sliding bolt 32 is provided, which slides laterally in the collar 31 and tends to be moved into engagement with the wings 43 of the pulley by the thrust spring 33. The collar 31 has an annular groove '34 and the sliding bolt 32 hasa-co-rresponding groove. To withdraw the boltfrom engagement with the driving-pulley, a wedge-member 35 is held in the groove 34 by the thrust-spring 36 acting on the end of the stem of the wedge, as shown in Fig. 8;

in this position, the wedge is adapted to engagethe groove in the bolt 32 asthe shaft revolves and slide the bolt back until it disengages the wings of the pulley; The stem of the wed e-member has a finger 37, and p to remove file wedge from the path of the sliding-bolt, a ratchet-wheel 38 is'mounted on the stud 45 and the teeth of the wheel, as ,the wheel rotates, enga e the finger 37 and carry it down, thus withdrawing the wedge from the groove 34. The ratchet wheel 38 is actuated by pressing down the treadle 39, which, acting through the arm 40 and the connecting plate 41,'which is loosely mounted on the-stud 45, raises the awl 42 by 'ineans of the pin 48 on the p ate 41 and hence rotates the ratchet wheel. This rotation is just sufficient to'withdraw the wedge 35.from the groove 34 and still leave the tooth of the wheel 38 in slight engagement with the finger 37, so that only a. little further rotation of the ratchet is needed to rerotation, another ratchet .wheel 44 is keyed on to the stud 45 beside the wheel 38 and with its teeth in the path of a tooth 46 on the collar 31. As this tooth engages the ratchet wheel 44, the wheel is rotated, thus rotating the wheel 38 and releasing the wedge -member- '35." To stop the ratchet wheels in the proper position, the locatin pin 47 is-springsupported in the frame an by its location and shape arrests the wheels just after the finger 37 is released, while at the same time the wheel 44 is so positioned as to have a tooth caught by the tooth 46 in its next rotation. The band-brake 56 stops the shaft immediately.

g" ,It is evidentfrom the foregoing description that when the operator has once pressed the treadle down, thus withdrawing the wedge and allowing the bolt to slide into engagement with the pulley, the wedge is automatically released by the action of the tooth 46 and the clutch is disengaged irrespective of whether or not the operator re- 1 leases the treadle. In other words, theplunger is actuated but once for one operation of the treadle, and to actuate the plunger again, the treadle must be first released and then pressed down again. Consequently, no harm can result from the operator forgetting or delaying to remove his foot from the treadle, and an absolute safeguard is provided against the injuries which frequently occur from carelessness in this respect.

It is necessary that the bottle be held in its place during the capping operation by a certain amount of pressure, and also that there be a yielding resistance after the bottle comes in contact with the buffer 2, and

for this purpose the spiral spring 49 is employed. This spring is held horizontally in i a box 50 on the top of the column 19 and.

bears against the cam-roll 51, the bearings of which are elongated to allow suflicient movement of the roll. To the top 'of the buffer 2 is linked the cam-rocker 52 which is fulcrumed between lugs 53 on the top-of the column 19. The rocker 52 is provided at its free end with a cam face, which bears against the cam-roll 51; and as the buffer yields to the pressure as the bottle and plunger are carried upward, the linked end of the lever 52 is forced upward and the camface rollsdown over the roll 51 forcing it inward against the spring 49. Inasmuch as the distance which the roll is forced inward by the lever is constant, the resistance of the spring is uniform. This resistance can be increased or diminished as desired by the screw 54 in the end of the spring-box opposite the cam-roll 51.

During the operation of the machine the spinning-head is kept constantly spinning by a belt which passes under theidler 55 on the back of the column 19 and thence around the pulley 3.

First, the bottle, with .a cap set on, is placed on the rest 14 against the gage 15 and the rest is adjusted to the desired height, ac cording to the height of the bottles to be capped. The treadle is then pressed down and, as the clutch engages the pulley 29, the shaft 23 is rotated andthe crank-pin 22, acting in the slot 24, raises the plunger and the top of the bottle presses against the buffer 2 and forces it upward, thus elevating the spinning-head. The fingers 7 mount the cone 4 and the rollers 1 are forced in, as previously described, and spin onthe cap in the well known manner. The angle of the cone 4 is sufliciently small to force the rollers very slowly into contact with the bottle-head as the spinning-head begins to rise, and the spinning operation is continued for a comparatively long time.- The parts which raised the bottle now descend, and the operator removes the bottle and places another in its place. Meanwhile, having released the treadle, he again presses it down and the same operation is repeated.

It is obvious that various modifications may be made in the construction shown andabove particularly described within the principle and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A bottle-capping machine comprising a capping-head and a relatively yieldable pressure member therein, a complementary pressure head, driving mechanism connected to cause the two heads to approach each other and produce pressure on a bottle between them, and a pressure-limiting device operated by the yielding of the capping-head pressure member under the pressure on the ottle, such device comprising a relatively movable cooperative cam and axially movable roller, and resilient means for opposing the axial movement of the roller.

2. A bottle-capping machine comprising a spinning head and a buffer, a reciprocating plunger to bring the bottle in contact with the buffer, a driving shaft, and means actuated thereby for reciprocating the plunger and holding it at its upward limit during the capping, operation.

3. A bottle capping machine comprising a spinning head and a buffer, a reciprocating plunger to bring the bottle in contact with the buffer, adjustable means for holding the buffer in uniformly yielding contact with the bottle during the cappingoperation, "a driving shaft, and means actuated .thereby' for reciprocating the plunger and holding it at its upward limit during the capping operation.

4. A bottle-capping machine comprising a spinning head and buffer, means for holding the buffer in uniformly yielding contact with the bottle during the capping operation, screw-adjusting means for varying the tension of the yielding holding means, and a reciprocating plunger to bring the bottle in contact with the bufl'er.

'5. A bottle-capping machine comprising a spinning-head and buffer, a reciprocating plunger to bring the-bottle in contact with the buffer, means for. holding the buffer in. uniformly yielding contact'with the bottle during the capping operation, screw-adjust ing means for varying the tension 'of the yielding holding means,a driving shaft, and means, actuated thereby for reciprocating the plunger and holding it atits upward limit during the capping operation.

6. In a. bottle-capping machine, a stationary pressure head, a reciprocating pressure head movable to and from the-stationary pressure head, and driving mechanism connected to reciprocate the reciprocating head,

such driving means including a cooperating pin and slot, a portion of the slot being shaped to hold the reciprocating pressure head at its limit of approach to the station any pressure head during the capping operation. v

7. A bottle-capping machine comprising a capping-head and a relatively yieldable pressure member therein, a complementary pressure head, driving mechanism connected to cause the two heads to approach each other and produce pressure on a bottle between them, and a pressure limiting device operated by the yielding of the cappinghead pressure memberiunder'the pressure on the bottle, such device comprising a rocking cam-faced lever, an axially movable roller. adapted to roll against the cam face, and adjustable'resilient means arranged to hold the roller in contact with the cam face.

8. A bottle-capping machine comprising a buffer, a rotary member mounted to rotate in concentric relation to the buffer, a plurality of spinning rolls carried by the rotary means for allowing axial relation to the buifer-head' as the buffer is forced backward to retracted position, ad-

'. formly yielding contact yielding contact with the bottle during the justable means for holding the buffer in uniwith the bottle during the capping operation comprisinga rocking cam-faced lever operatively connected to .the buffer, an axially movable roller adapted to contact with the cam face and resilient means arranged to hold the roller in contact with the 'cam'face; and a reciprocating plunger to bring the bottle in contact with the buffer.

9. In a bottle-capping machine, a buffer and adjustable means for holding the buffer in'uniformly yielding contact with the bottle during the capping operation, such means comprising a thrust spring, an adjusting screw to vary the tension thereof, aroller bearing against the spring, and a lever linked to the buffer and having a curved face bearing against the roller. 10. In a bottle-capping machine, a reciproeatin plunger having a slot, and a crank adapted to enter the slot and actuate the plunger, a portion of the slot being curved to the arc of the crank whereby the plunger is held stationary during a substantial part of the rotation of the crank.

11. A bottle-capping machine comprising a spinning-head and buffer, adjustablemeans forholding the spinning-head in uniformly capping operation a reciprocatin plunger to bring the bottle in contact wlth the buffer, the'plunger being provided with a slot, and

a crank adapted to enter the slot and actuate the plunger, a portion of the slot being curved to-the arc of the crank whereby the plunger is held stationary tial part of the rotation 12. In a bottle-ca during a substanof the crank. ping machine, in combination with a yie dable pressure member, means for bringing the pressure member in contact with the bottle to 'produce pressure on the bottle, and means for holdin the pressure members in uniformly yie ding contact with the bottle during the capping operation, such means comprising a rocking cam-faced lever movable by the yielding of the pressure member, a roller mounted in movable bearings and ada ted to roll against the cam face, and adjusta le resilient means arranged to hold the ,roller in contact with the cam face.

13. In a bottle-capping machine, a stationary pressure head, a reciprocating pressure head movable to and from the stationary pressure head, and driving mechanism connected to reciprocate the reciprocating head, 'such drivin means comprising a pitman having a sIot therein and a driven crank member engagin in the slot, the slot having aportion curve to substantially the are described by the crank member, whereby the reciprocating pressure head is held at its limit of approach to the stationary pressure head during-that part of the rotation of the crank member.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT E. MARSHALL.

Witnesses:

VICTOR D. Bons'r, WM. ASHLEY KELLY. 

